Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1887-10-19
CuINpTERL.
THC gEw FAnM HAND.


The farmer who was engaged in re-
pairing a broken whipplctree rested
his axe upon the large chopping block.
and give the speaker a searching
glance from head TO foot. The appli-
cant was slender. delicate young
man, with mild b.uc csc aud auburn
hair. lle " . % over twenty or
twenty an y... 20. and his soft
whit g., ot.. ted strangely with
Oh, b uu-burned palms of the
ftaf $50 Jns, who stood near by,
O.. s.l o. wagon whip and the other
WI 3d. bridl, iu hi. hand.
81 don't suow,' repeated Mr.. Miles
as d. scanned the youth still more
clos 49, you don't look as il you
ever did any farm work"
81 can i.arn,' replied the pale
youth. hi. face showing n dcspGiring
look 20. bis eyes ION on mis- only earthly
posse. on- small budget OF clothes
tirdup ,n rel handkerchief. and stick
run through ,h'm.
ca approaching Mr. Miles he had
taken Csc bundle from his shoulder
and carried 10 in his band.
Tic applicant was dressed neatly,
though not cNpcnsiyely. His clothes.
however, as we'll ~ the bundle. were
covered with dust. lie raised his dcs-
pairing eyes 90 the farmers face, with
u lO0A that at once appealed TO his heart.
"Did YOU ever work on the farmp'
asked the hiud-hearted Mr.. Miles
'But very li.,lr. sir. can soon learn.
though, and am willing to do all can.
Have yoa long been seeking en-
ploymcntP'
Eyes. sir. | have been travelling from
house TO house. for more than n week.
and the young man. or youth, for he
could scarcely be called man, gazed
down the long dusty road up which he
had so recently come.
Preston Flat was strip Of country
lying on the east side of Preston creek
about dozen miles i'm extent, and
four or five miles in width. II was
settlement completely shut in by sur
rounding hills and bluffs. The valley
was undulating and very fertile.
The valley had "a small village at the
head Of it under the significant name
of Bushyille. In Preston Flat the UNI
ambitious farmer was born, grew old
and died, little knowing or caring
about the great conflicts which agitated
the outside world.
He raised his corn, oats and wheat:
he fed his corn TO his hogs, horses, cat
tie and sheep; his wheat was ground
into flour by the miller at Bushville,
and furnished him bread.
Nearly every farmers wife was
weaver, and the bang of looms and the
whirr of wheels could be heard from
one end Of the valley to the other.
The women made the Jeans for the
men and linsey clothes for themselves.
The other necessary clothes were
purchased mt the store i'm Bushvillc.
which also afforded a miserable market
for the products Of the farm and what
livestock the farmer had to sell. We
are not speaking of Preston Flat of to-
day, but rs It was many years ago, at
the opening of our story.
Every tribe has chief, so every COM
munity head man, and Preston Flat
was not an exc option. Aside from the
''great mOgul' who owned the village
store and post Office mt Bushville and
with whom every body liked to show
their familiarity by calling him Dave"
was Mr. James Miles, the farmer. His
farm was larger. in better condition.
and better location than any other i'm
the entire Hat. The great farmhouse
which stood upon n slight elevation,
fifty rods or more from the broad, hard
beaten road, was pointed to with pride
10y. the other farmers of the neighbour
hood, and every pOrtly dame In the
valley regarded IL ~ the highest honor
Co take her knitten" and spend the
day with Mrs. Miles.
The farmhouse was surrounded by
stately clms. maple and oak. The barn
lots and barn attachments to the same.
and the vast fields lying beyond filled
with ripcning corn stretching away for
two miles, indicated wealth and COM
fort.
IL was 90 this thrifty farmer Walter
Brownfcld. with pale face, dust-cov-
cred, worn-Out and disheartcned APP
piled for work. Day after day had he
trumpcd from house TO house seeking
employment. 60 be turned aside with
the assurance that no hands were
wanted.
lie did not understand that his white
face and soft hands were the chief
cause Of his being turned away. What
spare change he had was spent in pay
ing lodging bills. and the last night he
had been compelled TO sleep in a barn.
No wonder his pleading soul was in
his face "a having waited long and
earnestly for an answer. and il coming
not. he said:
"win you be so kind as to give me a
trialP"
The stout farmer boys who had been
attracted by the young man, stood tit
tcring. as they compared his slender
form with their own muscular frames.
al don't know" was the hcsitating
answer Of the farmer. "1Uu see the
farming season j. nearly over. There
j. ally not much To do now
"You certainly can give me work
enough 10 pay for my board and clothes
any way" said the anxious young APP
plicant
The farmer took his foot down from
the chopping block. drove the axe deep
into Il, then with his elbow on his knee,
and his head In his hands, seemed To be
thinking the matter over.
you say We never did much farm
workPn he finally asked, shifting hi,
foot, knee. hand and head, to get
another look at the applicant
''No, sir, never but very little"
"Where are We fromp'
81 came from Queenstown"
''What is your nameF"
''Walter Browniield."
'Walter Brownfeld," repeated the
farmer. rc1cctiyelY. still keeping hi;
head In ms hand, In a meditative m@d'
ner, IL never heard OF that name 10
fore; as ann not acquainted in Queens
town il is nothing strange
Thank Hcavunl" mentally cjacu-
lated the tired youth. ''you are not ac.
quainted with either Queenstown ~
my name. Why did not change iti
II would have been safer, yet could
not live up to deception"
The farmer then Strengthened him
self up and leaning on his axe begar
10 put what In his estimation wer,
some astute cross questions.